TRANSPORT bosses have been forced to alter the policy of their free Oyster cards after hundreds of teens were losing their passes when they were accidentally defaced.

Last month, the Observer spoke to disgruntled parent Bob Burton who slammed Transport for London (TfL) when he received a letter from them saying they wanted his 15-year-old son to 'earn' back his free travel pass after he accidentally put it in the wash.

Last week , it was revealed that Daniel Burton was one of more than 1,500 children across London who have had their concession of free travel stopped since April 2009.

As a result, TfL is allowing people to change the photo on their travel cards as regularly as they want for just £10.

Daniel, from Bishop Ken Road, Harrow Weald, had his pass confiscated by bus inspectors after his dad accidentally put it through the wash and was told that he could only get it back if he did six hours of voluntary work.

Mr Burton even offered to do the 'community service' himself because his son couldn't afford to get to the sessions which were held across London.

TfL hopes this kind of problem will be a thing of the past now, by altering its policy.

Until recently, concessionary photocard holders were unable to change the photograph on their Oyster passes.

As a result, a number of photocard holders were found to be travelling with what appeared to be deliberately damaged or defaced cards.

Mr Burton said he thought children were being 'made to feel like criminals', when, in many cases, cards were being defaced by bullies, accidentally damaged, or being altered by self-conscious teens who were not happy with their pictures.

Now they can change their photo online as often as they want but Steve Burton, director of community safety enforcement and policing at TfL, said people will still face voluntary sessions if it is thought passes have been defaced illegally.

He said: "It is very important that the photographs on all Oyster photocards are clearly visible and that our staff are able to confirm that the person travelling for free or at a discount is authorised to do so.

"If you want to change your photograph, you can now visit the TfL website and upload an appropriate one you prefer.

"Travelling with a card that doesn't work when you touch in, isn't yours or doesn't have a clear photograph of you may lead to you losing your travel concession."